Financial aid question?

Contrary to what some of the posters have answered, it does not matter whether you live with your parents or not. When you complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the 0708 school year you will be asked a series of questions:

were you born before 1/1/84

are you a graduate or professional student

are you married

do you have children

do you have legal dependents other than children

are you an orphan or ward of the court

are you Active Duty in the U.S. Armed Forces

are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces

If you cannot answer “yes” to any of the above questions then you are classified as a dependent student and have to provide your income information as well as your parents, whether or not you live with them. So this means you will most likely have a higher EFC (Expected Family Contribution) than if you were classified as an independent.

You may appeal your dependency status and try to be classified as an independent (and thus only having to report your income) but most colleges only accept appeals for extenuating circumstances (such as if a parent is incarcerated or institutionalized for example). Most will reject an appeal for independent status just because a student doesn’t live with his/her parents.

Sorry!

Much more! I live on my own (and I’m not 25 yet) and I didn’t have to give my parents income on anything. I made $13,000 last year and I got $1560 in pell grants, which is pretty good because I get $11,000 from the GI Bill to help with school and I claimed that money and still got the pell grants. Your school will help you out with any more questions if you just call the financial aid office.

I saw many comments that if you live on your own you get more. there are a series of question on the FAFSA that determine if you are dependent or independent. Living on your own is not one of them but yes if you are considered independent you get more because the income and assest that are looked at are your if independent vs dependent where they look at yours and your parents.

They still want your parents income. until your 25, and yours if you work also. you do get more if you live on your own.

way more on your own

they give you financial aid based on income so if your parents combined income is more than yours i suggest you file for fafsa as independent.

yes, you would because your EFC (expected family contribution) would be lower since you have more expenses. you will be dependent until you are 25, married, or enter the military.

much more if you live alone.